Silver Lake Schools

Musical hits the stage Dec. 2

Musical hits stage Dec. 2

(Nov. 22, 2016)

Article by Kennedy Kats / Photos by Cooper Davis

This year’s musical, Mary Poppins, will be performed on Dec. 2 and 3 at 7 p.m. in the high school Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are currently available in the high school office. Any extra tickets will be sold at the door 45 minutes prior to each performance.

Senior Megan Risetter plays the lead role of Mary Poppins, and Senior Josh Wilson co-stars with her as Bert.

Risetter shared her favorite part about being involved in the musical.

“My favorite part of being in the musical is simply having the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing cast. Everyone is so talented in the things that they do from singing, to dancing, to acting. The way we all contribute our strengths to produce such an outstanding production every single year has truly been an incredible experience,” Risetter said.

She also explained the hardest part about playing such a well-known character.

“Mary Poppins is very confident in everything that she does and says. Rightfully so because she's a miracle worker, but to the point where she has built up quite an ego. The self-confidence part comes easy for me, but the high level of vaingloriousness that her character possesses is difficult for me to try to match,” Risetter said.

Risetter shared her favorite songs in the production.

“It's hard to choose just one favorite part, but ‘Anything Can Happen’ is definitely one because I love the message of the song. ‘Feed the Birds’ also teaches a very important life lesson and is the song I like to sing the most. As you can tell, my favorite parts are all the songs!” Risetter said.

Tonya McGough, musical director, credited not only the students on stage, but the many contributors who are not as visible.

“Andy (Rhodes, band teacher) has been a huge help with the music this year. He takes the music score and follows it to bring kids in, and I take the script and make sure we stay on track with the acting and blocking. Cathy (Altman) is the accompanist,” she said.

Many students work behind the scenes to make the musical a success, including making the sets. These students are enrolled in Ian Reel’s stage tech class.

Senior Mackensie Haverkamp, who plays Winifred Banks, also has a major role in helping with the musical. This is Haverkamp’s second year of being in charge of the musical's choreography.

Haverkamp explained what she struggles with when coming up with the choreography.

“The hardest part about choreographing for the musical is figuring out how to work with the different skill levels of my peers, and then being able to create choreography that is able to be easily executed by everyone,” Haverkamp said.

She mentioned her favorite scene.

“My favorite song that I choreographed in this musical is definitely ‘Step In Time.’ It is such a fun and upbeat song. I'm really excited to see how it goes during our official performances and to see the audience's reaction,” Haverkamp said.

She shared what she is most excited for with this year’s production.

“I personally am just really excited for the entire show in general. The music is buoyant and well known, the characters are quirky, and my cast has been a ton of fun to work with,” Haverkamp said.

Mary Poppins Cast List

Bert- Josh Wilson

George Banks-Keith Nagy

Winifred Banks-Mackensie Haverkamp

Jane Banks-Olivia English

Michael Banks-Logan Matzke

Katie Nana/Chorus-Alyssa Reeder

Policeman/John Northbrook/Chorus-Alex Holder

Admiral Boom/Bank Clerk/Chorus-Josh Dallman

Park Keeper/Bank Chairman/Chorus-Nathan Ruby

Miss Smythe/Chorus-Alex Ferguson

Mrs. Brill-Jennah Ridder

Robertson Ay/Von Hussler/Chorus-Ryan Wagner

Mary Poppins-Megan Risetter

Bank Clerk/Sweep/Chorus- Calen Schuckman

Neleus/Bank Clerk/Chorus-Josh Boucher

Queen Victoria/Chorus-Macey Clark

Doll/Chorus-Peyton Fergola

Valentine/Annie/Chorus-Lyndsey Vande Velde

Bird Woman/Miss Andrew/Chorus-Bailee Arnold

Fannie/Chorus-Micki Moore

Teddy Bear/Chorus-Samantha Ortiz

Mrs. Corry/Chorus-Nicole Gerber

Fannie/Chorus-Santana Raub

Bank Clerk/Chorus-Timmy Williams

Miss Lark/Chorus-Samantha Fisher

Sweep/Chorus-Cooper Davis

Toy/Chorus-Cheyenne Bottom

People in the Chorus are sweeps, park strollers, statues, magic store people and all of the above.